Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Cheshire Lines Building

do you remember the old Cheshire Lines Building down Shore rd, Birkenhead? Many will remember it as Littlewoods pools as well!
The building is being gutted at present, having been used as local council / civil offices, so all the partition walls and suspended ceilings are coming out! Should be left with an empty shell as was in the times of Cheshire Lines!
was in there the other day working on a forktruck for the demolition guys and decided on a snoop about!(as you do!!)
went thru to the rear which is still partly occupied (quietly) and found the old telephone room and security office from Littlewoods. some of the Directors offices with name tags on doors, some still furnished!
But best of all, just opposite the security office was a vault door, unlocked!!
When inside it was the main vault for Littlewoods, huge room, empty (of course!) probably the size of the ground area of my house!!! Had second BIG safe in corner but locked (combination lock!)
On the wall was a board with a copy of EVERY key to the place, inside and out still on their hangers!!
Phone camera playing up so have to do another "breakdown" next week!!
Watch this space......!

Cool, look forward to seeing the pictures

Why is it being emptied and where are the offices relocating?

I think that's supposed to be where the archives is going to be.
It's also where I went a few months ago to look at the plans of the Everest Rd. overflow tunnel.

Everest Rd overflow tunnel???

Click me for Overflow Tunnel topic

Is this the big red brick building next to Woodside?
I worked in there when I was younger selling tights over the phone. Worst job in the world.
The council spent a lot of money occupying it ... are they moving out already?

Half of it is still occupied by council offices, this is in the rear half, been empty for years now, all the furniture, computers and fones left are all eighties and nineties looking!!
go on a mooch about tomorrow if the demo guys are around, take box brownie (camera!) with me!!

interesting look forward to seeing the photos

They should sell it off - probably be worth something to someone. One mans rubbish and all that. I know I'd be interested in 80's stuff - it was my era

Think the archive service have already moved in to another part of the builing as the address has changed on the council website.

Thanks, Jonno; do you know when the archives are going to be open to the public again?

sorry i dont chris but i didnt see anything on the website about it not being open

Thanks, Jonno. Last I heard it was going to be closed until September sometime, until the move from Hamilton Square was complete.

Archives are open about 14th October aren't they? I'll have to ask around

Checked today; archives are now open at Cheshire Lines Building.

anyone tried it? What are the computers like in there?